LIU Post to Offer Fall Course on Lifesaving

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On an island of seemingly countless beaches, lifeguards protect residents of our communities with their valued lifesaving skills. In the Fall 2012 semester, LIU Post (formerly the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University) will offer a course on advanced lifesaving skills through its Health and Physical Education Department.

In this course, students will obtain American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification and learn techniques such as First Aid, CPR, Defibrillation, and recognizing and rescuing both passive and active drowning victims. Students will also learn how to properly maintain inline stabilization and backboard a victim of suspected spinal injury on land and in both shallow and deep water.
Professor Cary Epstein, director of lifeguard training for the Long Island Region of New York State Parks, will teach the course. Epstein has served as a lifeguard at Jones Beach for over 15 years and is second vice president of the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps. Epstein also is a New York State Emergency Medical Technician and has been an American Red Cross Lifeguard Training, CPR, AED and First Aid Instructor for 15 years. Professor Epstein is the head coach of the Long Island Express Masters Swim Program and a two-time Ironman Triathlon Finisher.

"As a Jones Beach Lifeguard for over a decade, I have made hundreds and hundreds of rescues," said Professor Cary Epstein. "However, it's the one time that you're not on 'active duty' when you save someone's life that sticks out. I was on vacation with friends in the Bahamas and as I walked down the beach, out of the corner of my eye I saw a little girl drowning. Before you could even blink I was diving in to come to her aid. I was a regular guy who was just on vacation with his friends, but happened to be at the right place at the right time. You never know when you are going to put your skills to use. Once a lifeguard, always a lifeguard."

Advanced Lifesaving (PE 124) will be offered as a 2-credit Physical Education course. It will be held on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:20 p.m. in the Pratt Recreation Center Pool.

For more information, please contact Professor Epstein at cary.epstein@liu.edu or call the Health and Physical Education Department at 516-299-2671.